FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

Q: Why do we celebrate Christmas? 

A: Jesus’ Birth is celebrated. The famous passage in Luke 2:11 gives us the picture of what we celebrate:

“11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  - Luke 2:11

Christmas should cause us to leap for Joy (Luke 1:44) and also proclaim Christ as the Savior of the World (John 1:29) just like John the Baptist demonstrated. 

Q: What place in the Bible tells us the story of Jesus’ Birth?

A: In Luke 2:8-14. Jesus is designated as the anointed Savior. This means Jesus is the only one qualified to Save the world from Sin. Luke 1-2 shows us several poems and praises from those who realize the savior has been born. They serve as an example for us in this time of praise and celebration for Christ’s birth. One example is Luke 2:13-14, which is the motivation behind the hymn and Christmas carol ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’:

13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” – Luke 2:8-14

Q: What do Christ, Savior, Messiah, & Immanuel Mean? 

A:

• Christ/Christos (Greek) – Is the Greek equivalent of Messiah, and means to anoint (John 1:41; Mt. 1:16). 
• Savior/Soter (Greek) – The savior, deliverer from sins who delivers us from the judgment of sin (Luke 1:47; 2:11; John 1:29). The Greek word soter is the beginning of the study of soteriology, which means the study of salvation.
• Messiah/Mashiach (Greek/Hebrew) – The Greek transliterated word of the Hebrew word, Mashiach. Which means the act of anointing or consecrating someone to serve God alone. Jesus lived this consecrated life out as our perfect Messiah (John 1:41).
• Immanuel (Hebrew) – Means God is with us (Mt. 1:23). The temple was no longer to be communion place of God, where Priests could only be in His presence. Instead, all believers can be with God because of the Holy Spirit. Christ’s birth allows all believers to be in the Holy Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)

Q: Does Jesus’ birth mean He was created? 

A: No, Jesus was not created because he is self-existent before the creation (John 1:1-5). Jesus was the only begotten son (John 3:16), which is often mis-translated and should be translated as ‘the only unique Son’ that explained God fully (John 1:14, 18). Jesus is God and explains the essence of God (i.e. ‘deity’ in Col. 2:9). The Trinity explains that God is truly one in essence, but three in persons (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit).

Q: How should we pray & apply the Christmas Story?

A:

• Pray about Jesus’ birth saving someone in your life. Thank God for providing a Savior, Messiah, & Immanuel.
• Pray to use the Christmas time to bring you closer to God and to speak to family about who Jesus is and why He means so much. 
• Pray to have better fellowship with God. Since God is Immanuel, we don’t have to have a temple, instead we can have a relationship with God through Christ.